JP Ducasse is a local high school biology teacher, who recently married, and is intent on bringing the issues of his constituents to Parliament Hill. He was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1968 and raised in North Battleford, SK. He has Saskatchewan friendly views on the environment and eager to bring a grass roots style and the Saskatchewan spirit to government. JP is a member of the Saskatoon Symphony Board and has a keen awareness of the importance of the arts and culture in todays society.

Jill, doing her reporter thing, Paul (Kelsey’s friend and a new knitter…WELCOME Paul), Kelsey working on teaching her friend some knitterly ways (who is also a former student of JPs); Jan who expertly worked knitting into a political discussion and the back of Kristin’s head.

Issues present themselves in many ways. From considering the environment to picking yarn for a project. Today was an issue oriented SnB. We invited JP Ducasse to join us and discuss the issues surrounding the upcoming federal election. Although our numbers were a bit smaller than usual (and what I would have liked) rousing conversation was the topic at hand. Inviting our candidates to discuss these issues with us was a brilliant idea (even though it began as a whimsical mention). We are working on getting more of them out to see us so stay tuned.

Topics of discussion ranged from the environment to equalization payments. They melded into comparisons of the Green and NDP social program platforms and post secondary education funding. We discussed mass transit and the better use of our railway infrastructure, which led to discussions on energy options. Population health and the Canadian international image popped up. The arts and culture were front and centre in light of the drastic cuts the Harper government has made across the board. Who wouldn’t agree, other than the Harper"ites", that writers, actors, musicians, painters, and other arts workers contribute the knowledge economy just as much as business contribute to the economic status of the market place or athletes contribute to the interenational status of Canadians?

Here we have Jan, Shakthi, Kate (in the midst of a heated discussion with JP), Mary, Melissa and Kristen.

We were also joined by Jill Smith, the local CBC Radio reporter and will certainly get some air time tomorrow on CBC Radio 1. She plied us with questionsn about our origins as a knitting circle, what it means to be member of this close knit group and just what benefits we receive by forming tightly bound relationships with those that we otherwise wouldn’t have met – were it not for our obsession with yarn. She personally interviewed myself, Melissa, and JP and has kindly offered to pass our information onto the program managers and producers at CBC radio. We just may have more air time for us knitters!

Today’s SnB brought new life to this political scientist in that I have a higher level of respect for the hearts and minds that surround our table. Even Mr. Ducasse noted that the level of intellect and intelligence around our table is quite surprising. We are not the matronly stereotypical knitters of days past. We are well educated, interested, and eloquent professionals who take our role in society as seriously as anyone else. We are slowly changing the perception of what it means to be knitter, one stitch at a time. Gone are the days of knitting as work. Gone are the days when we were considered house bound matrons working to outfit our families with warm woolies. We are entering a new age of perception where knitters are everywhere – we exist in the home; we knit in the boardroom; we spread our obsession with sharp pointy sticks to all walks of life; and, most importantly, we bring our love of yarn to political arena. So beware world, we are here, we are not meek and we aim to take over the world one stitch at a time!

Be sure to bring your issues and creative spirits to the table next when we will entertain the notions of the conservatives. The Saskatoon Humboldt incumbent, Brad Trost, will join us for another politically correct knitting session. This SnB is sure to enlighten, entice, and excite knitters of all walks. You don’t want to miss it. We are taking wagers on just how long it will take Kate to bring up patriarchy. Place your guesses in the comment section on this blog.

Now to the business at hand…more pictures and some FOs that are amazing…

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Outstanding! It is comforting to know that there are those in the political circle who care enough to make appearances like these. It is also heart warming to see such enthusiasm from such a diverse group of people. I feel confident my home of Saskatchewan is in good hands!

I know I promised I would be there, but something came up this morning in the way of a boy. Eek, he decided today that he wanted to talk. Why on Sunday? So there are new developments and I’m happy. But I promise, I will be there next week as long as I’m not working, and no, I don’t have a job yet. Ha ha.